Quick question about side scuttles
 

For those of you that have them, did you install them yourself or have the dealer do it? If you did it was it very difficult (I wouldn't think it would be!)Thanks! :thumbsup:

The Dealer installed my Union Jack Side Scuttles, Molly was a Year Old and I didn't want to mess anything up, besides now they are covered under a 12mo. Warranty. :) Cost at Dealer...I can't remember, I'll see if I can find my paperwork.

Thanks for the response! I'd like to get some too but like you, I'm afraid of messing something up if I do it myself :) I'm curious to know how much it cost you....

2 minutes....just push the housing forward, toward the part line for the bonnet and they pop off...then twist out the lighting housing and switch the housings and put it all back together...

My blackjack side scuttles came already installed with my used '08 R56.

Looking sharp tokyo

I found my Paperwork, it says...
51-13-0-432-570 Trim Cover Set with Pad 519999 $55.00
51-13-0-414-453 Carrier Set, Trim with Pad 519999 $125.00
Installed Union Jack Side Scuttles $42.31

So there ya' go...all for $222.31 (Less Tax, OR does not charge Tax)

Hope this helps you make your decision...it was so worth it for me...Molly Shines with those on!! :nod: :thumbsup:

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...y/IMG_1628.jpg

Here is a video to show just how easy this install is to complete.
I would not pay somebody to do this.

http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/h...=Picture-2.flv

Somebody had the gall to charge you $42.31 for literally one minute (30 seconds per side) of "labor", after you paid full retail pop for the parts?

I hope they had the courtesy to at least give you a reach-around. That's deplorable.

I have absolutely no problem paying my Dealer or anyone else what ever it costs to get my MINI looking the way I want it to L@@K. I've not completed my list of mods yet, I'll be adding Tint, Wheels, Driving Lights, an MCS Grille(?), a Shorty Antenna(?), a Roof Rack, all of these will be installed by the Dealer, my choice!! :nod:

I sure hope you don't have the dealer do the antenna and the MCS grill; both of those can literally be done in a minute.

And I'm not 100% on this, but I'm pretty sure you don't have to do any drilling to attach a roof rack for an R56 so that makes it another mod easily accomplished in the driveway.:nod:

I appreciate where you're coming from.. but if you haven't already, watch that video of how the scuttles are swapped. It's less complicated than grabbing a Kleenex and blowing your nose. Same for the shorty antenna. All that other stuff, good idea to let someone else do it. But of course, the choice is yours, we're just trying to look out for you.

Ash and Kevin are right. A couple of these mods (side scuttle and antenna) are actually easier than driving the car! Some people, like RJKimbell, may have plenty of disposable income.....but don't get ripped off. If you feel the need to give money away, give it to charity.

Hahaha, one-handed! Sorry RJ but the dealer ripped you off.

THe side scuttles are a DIY! I took mine off to PlastiDip and it takes 3 minutes a side? Maybe less.

42 bucks??? Holy crap.

Just for the record, figure this.....

Average labor rate for dealer per hour.... 135.00

Money charged..... 42

That's for .3 of an hour labor.....

That's for BOTH sides.... so figure .15 of an hour per side.

.15 x 60 minutes= 9 minutes per side allowed.

9 minutes per side.... :lol:

If it takes someone more than 3 minutes for both sides, someone's taking a break.


Mark

For one, side scuttles are way overpriced. $200+ :eek2: For two, I think my 2 year old nephew could do the job, so I wouldn't spend the extra 40 bucks on having the dealer do it. My nephew will do it for a dime.

I understand that the OP paid the dealer, that's cool, some aren't capable of doing mechanical work and some just want the piece of mind that if something was to happen, they can rely on the dealer.

That part I understand, the part I think is wrong is how much the dealer charged. I think it would be great customer relations to have not charged for the mere 2 minutes they took to install the pieces.

I'm in the bodyshop business and when I installed my JCW scuttles, one fell off about 3 months afterwards.... (maybe I should have paid the dealer...lol)

Mark

OC I was not the OP, the OP has not yet decided on which Side Scuttles to get and who should install them.

I am the one who paid the Dealer to R&R Molly's Side Scuttles. And when I am able to get my next mod (April) I will have the Dealer R&R what ever mod I decide will be next.

You all have your own opinion and I understand that, so let's get back on topic and help the OP out, K??!! :)

Buy them and install them yourself. If you're not sure how to install them or unsure, I'm sure someone in a local mini club would be more than happy to do it for you.

I don't know where you are but if you're near Charlotte, NC, you can come to either of my bodyshops and we'll install it for you for free.


Mark

Thanks so much for digging that out for me, I appreciate it. Molly looks great!
Thanks for all the opinions everyone, I'm not sure if I'll try putting them on myself or let the dealer do it but I appreciate everyone's input! Now I just need to find a MINI club in Ohio! :thumbsup:

You might ask the service adviser if he will help you install them. I saw this happen at my dealer a few days ago on another accessory and in reality he did everything. He was happy he please a customer, she was happy that she got the accessory installed (mirror cap).

Great idea, thanks for the tip! :thumbsup:

I ordered mine through the dealer and had them shipped to the house. I was a little unsure about messing things up but the scuttles actually shipped with instructions although you really don't need them. They were a cinch to put on. As easy as opening a jar of pickles.

It always pays in the long run to learn how to do it yourself. The side scuttles feature the same removal theme as many other pieces of trim on the MINI.... pull really hard! Want to put it back on? Push really hard!